A heart-warming story filled with gorgeous chiaroscuro illustrations that I read in one sitting, Peter Brown's debut middle-grade book is ultimately about making friends and creating family wherever you find yourself. Robot Roz wakes up on a remote island after the cargo ship she was on sinks at sea, and finds that she is anything but alone. A delightful cast of animal inhabitants make themselves known as Roz slowly becomes a contributing part of their community, adopting an orphaned gosling, teaching the creatures how to build lodges, and even protecting them from would-be predators. This is the perfect match for anyone who loves cozy stories with animals that aren't overly saccharine. Buy this one for all of your young reader friends, or relish it yourself! Grade 4+
when she woke by hillary jordan
A Scarlet Letter reimagined in the not-so-distant future, WSW takes on separation of church and state, women's reproductive rights, and criminal justice without ever feeling preachy or forced. After Hannah Payne is convicted of murder for terminating an unwanted pregnancy, she literally wakes up red. Her jail time is televised; watching incarcerated 'chromes,' or convicted criminals (colored according to the nature of their crime), is a popular national entertainment. When Hannah is released, her nightmare begins as she struggles to balance her need for justice with her love for her family and her faith. An excellent choice for units discussing the individual versus society and social injustice, WSW will have special appeal for older teens. A remarkably different story than Mudbound, Jordan's equally successful debut novel. Grade 9+